Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomsolst’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomsolst’, characterized by its single-type, dark and light yellow-colored inflorescences that first open yellow-orange and with senescence fade to light yellow, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsomsolst’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsomsolst’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during October 2011. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Echinacea cultivars with a single inflorescence form having imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact-upright growth habit.

The new Echinacea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding selection coded E98-4, not patented, characterized by its single-type, light yellow-colored ray florets, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulk pollen mix of four proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding selections coded E98-1 through E98-4, not patented, characterized by their single-type, light yellow-colored ray florets, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2012 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro shoot propagation since June 2012 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsomsolst’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Single-type, dark and light yellow-colored inflorescences         that first open yellow-orange and with senescence fade to light         yellow;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in having white coloration on the ray floret color.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SOMBRERO Lemon Yellow ‘Balsomemyim’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,116. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsomemyim’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color that         includes a lighter shade of yellow when fully open differing         from plants of ‘Balsomemyim’ having a solid ray floret color;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have inflorescences with a smaller         disc diameter and fewer disc florets per inflorescence than         plants of ‘Balsomemyim’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of         ‘Balsomemyim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsomsolst’. The plants were approximately five months old. The plants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately 13 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 3 weeks in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsomsolst’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsomsolst’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately five-month old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown utilizing a soilless growth medium under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately 13 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 3 weeks in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures in Elburn, Ill. were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea x hybrida ‘Balsomsolst’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding             selection coded E98-4, not patented.         -   Male parent.—A bulk pollen mix of four proprietary Echinacea             x hybrida breeding selections coded E98-1 through E98-4, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm             container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, compact-upright.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to             −26° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 47.0 cm. Width: Approximately 40.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             4.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:             Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately             37.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm to 1.0 cm. Length of             central internode: Approximately 5.5 cm. Texture: Densely             pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of young and             mature stems: 145A to 145B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire to             shallowly serrate, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 11.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             4.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Dull, moderately pubescent             with short strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface:             Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of             upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to NN137A             with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 145C.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 5.5 cm to             16.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Sparsely covered with very short strigose hairs. Color of             upper and lower surfaces: 145B to 145C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsomsolst’ is a long-day obligate,             freely flowering blooming from late spring through late             summer under outdoor growing conditions.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:             Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:             Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Height:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately             45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with short strigose hairs. Color: 145A to 145B.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 5. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.7 cm. Color:             Outer ray florets of 154D with bud center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20.             Arrangement: In a single whorl, imbricate. Aspect:             Perpendicular to disc, subtending slightly with age. Shape:             Elliptic. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate             to notched. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 4.3 cm.             Width: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper             surface when first open: 15A to 15B tinted with 137C at             base. Color of lower surface when first open: 12D. Color of             upper surface when fully open: 12A to 12B with 12D at base             and tips, with senescence fade to 12C to 12D. Color of lower             surface when fully open: 11D.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 225. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or             inner surface when first and fully open: 144B. Color of             lower or outer surface when first and fully open: 144B with             base of NN155D.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Color: 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 60.             Arrangement: In multiple whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Truncate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm to 1.3 cm. Width:             Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface:             Sparsely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper             surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 137B.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:             Approximately 225. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately             1.3 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of             23A, mid-section of 144A, and base of NN155D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,             basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther             color: Closest to 199A. Filament length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D. Pollen amount: Abundant.             Pollen color: 13A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only.             Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Stigma color: 145D. Style length: Approximately             6.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Ovary color: NN155D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Echinacea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomsolst’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 